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José Manuel Barroso: “Is it realistic to think that we can win the confidence of the markets and of the investors when we show so little confidence in each other?” - Interview by Laurent Van Brussel
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With the European vision suffering a crisis of confidence in many Member States, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is steering us through challenging times. SHIFT Mag sat down with President Barroso to discuss how the EU com...
Martin Schulz: “To promote growth you can not only cut budget lines” - Interview by Laurent Van Brussel
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President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, took up his mandate at the beginning of 2012, a year of some highs and many lows for the EU. SHIFT mag sat down with him to discuss his impressions from the year, how well the EU communicates with...
Meanwhile in Brussels - By Friederike Endress
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A short story collection lets us catch a glimpse of the lives of nine young city dwellers. ‘The Meantime’ tells of transition, belonging and the anguish of choice, featured against the backdrop of Brussels’ multiple faces. The nine young author...
“Romanian students ask for practical knowledge” - Interview by Patricia Floric
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Catalina Apostol, the president of the student association, V.I.P (Volunteers for Ideas and Projects), points out that there is a “lack of practical examples, debates and real internships” in the Romanian higher education system. According to her...
"Romania next challenge: competing with EU top universities" - Interview by Laurent Van Brussel
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Despite the 2011 national reform on the educational system, the level of higher education in Romania remains one of the lowest in the EU. High qualified people are left behind and the country is experiencing a considerable brain drain. “No Romani...
School shootings raising in Europe? - By Juliane Gau
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US school shootings like the one at the Columbine High School in 1999 seem far removed from the old continent, but European school shootings in Finland and in Germany made headlines worldwide. We spoke with Gisela Mayer who lost her daughter in a sch...
The EU on the blackboard - By Patricia Floric
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How to introduce the EU at school? Telling children about the European Union in the Primary Schools and teaching them that they are part of a big family of 27 brothers and sisters are challenges endorsed by the European Schools and timidly faced by t...
The Future We Want? Report from Rio+20 - By Aoife O’Grady
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Twenty years ago, the world watched as the leaders and representatives of over 170 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the 1992 Earth Summit. George Bush Sr and Fidel Castro rubbed shoulders with the Dalai Lama and Pelé as a bold new vision for...
Is the EU a social media dinosaur? - By Mark Humphreys
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Personal Democracy Media is an independent media company focused on developing the link between politics and technology, and since 2004 has produced the annual Personal Democracy Forum – now in its ninth year in the United States and its third year...
“The Cyprus Presidency will not be distracted or otherwise affected by internal Cyprus economic conditions” - Interview by Laurent Van Brussel
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On 1 July, Nicosia took over the EU presidency for the first time since Cyprus entered the Union in 2004 (and the Eurozone in 2008). How are the Cypriots coping with this baptism of fire, taking place in a context of a ‘convalescent Europe’ and d...
“We wanted a comprehensive regional overview” - Interview by Ferdinand Koenig
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Jana Mittermaier, Director of Transparency International’s Brussels Office, speaks to SHIFT about the Corruption Risks in Europe report. This is the first time that TI has produced a comprehensive regional report on corruption in Europe. Why did y...
Corruption Alert for Europe: new report identifies continent-wide risks - By Ferdinand Koenig
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A new cross-border report published by the respected anti-corruption NGO Transparency International (TI) claims that there are significant corruption risks across Europe and that not enough is being done to address them. Corruption Risks in Europe, p...
Culture Caught in a Political Mess - By Natalia Sniadanko
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The debate about the Ukrainian language and culture consists of constant rows and going from one extreme to the other. “If your given name happens to be Russian, pack up and go back where you belong”, was the advice given to kindergarten children...
“Let everybody talk about their shame, I would talk about my shame!” - By Patricia Floric
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Hearing the name Rade Šerbedžija you may well wonder who he is… but as soon as you see his face, you recognise him. He is one of the most famous actors in the Balkans, and despite acting in many American movies, he always comes back to his homela...
Opening the Balkan route to organised crime? - Patricia Floric
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In the UN 2010 World Drugs and Corruption report, the United Nations pointed out that “Most of the heroin dispatched from Afghanistan to West Europe proceeds overland along the so-called ‘Balkan route’.” With Croatia entering the EU, partic...
Giving a home to broken hearts - By Juliane Gau
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The ‘Museum of Broken Relationships’ in Zagreb, Croatia, pays tribute to broken hearts. “When a relationship ends, you are never the same person as before – every relationship leaves a mark on your life”, says Olinka Vištica. “You feel l...
Croatia: travel destination en vogue - By Gabriele Eckhardt
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More than 1 000 islands, crystal-clear waters, lots of culture and many exciting places make Croatia a top travel destination in south-east Europe. Croatia was fortunate enough to rapidly overcome the ravages of the war in the former Yugoslavia...
Homeless youth along the Croatian coast - By Emmanuel Freson
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Everyone has an acquaintance who has been offered a beautiful residence in Croatia with amazing sea views at an unbeatable price. For more than 15 years now, Croatia has been invaded by foreigners who have literally jumped at this opportunity, consid...
And now? EU Conquest of the East - By Patricia Floric
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The policy of EU enlargement is bringing many hopes to Eastern countries aiming to enter the EU. And if, Croatia will become next year the 28th country to enter the European Union, there are still many in the Balkans waiting for their turn. So, who...
